May River Report 2023 - South Holston & Watauga Rivers
South HolstoN RIVER
The South Holston had low flows for the entire month of May. Because of this, fishing conditions were very similar to April. However, the Sulphur activity has picked up and will continue throughout the summer. Fishing was still productive if anglers adjusted their rigs and presentation to maximize stealth. We fished a dry-dropper regularly with consistent success. Our rig consisted of a 9ft 5X leader to 18 inches of 6x tippet. For flies, a Pink Albert was our go-to dry fly with a small perdigon (such as an Olive Quill #20) below it. However, if you are fishing very small midges or unweighted pheasant tails, a Puffdaddy dry fly could be used as well.
Nymphing using a light in-line yarn indicator rig was also very productive. Be persistent when you are working through flies. During low and clear conditions, fish can be very picky. Flip over rocks and try to match the profile and color of the bugs you see.
Looking ahead we will likely have more generations as the lake is reaching its summer levels.
Dry Fly Fishing
We have seen good Sulphur and Blue-Winged Olive activity in the last weeks of May. The BWOs are tapering off and Sulphurs are coming in. We did observe some great late evening hatches at times. If you have the ability to stay on the water late, it can definitely be worth it. For dry-fly fishing, we love using Trouthunter Finesse Leaders as they are incredibly supple and float extremely well which enables drag-free drifts. Make sure to have long leaders and light tippet on our low and clear flows. We recommend using 9ft 5x-12ft 6x nylon leaders and 5.5x-6.5x nylon tippet for dry fly fishing.
Click here for the South Holston Dam generation schedule!
Suggested Patterns
Nymphs
Stripper Midge #18-20
Olive Quill #20
CDC Cased BWO Emerger #18
Weiss’ BP Light #18
Dry Flies
BWO Puffdaddy #18
Sulphur Puffdaddy #16
Sulphur CDC Comparadun #16
Pink Albert #16
Beer of the Month
Black Horse Vanilla Cream Ale is a light-bodied ale with subtle vanilla notes, a delicate hop aroma, and a slightly sweet finish. It is brewed with a blend of malts and natural vanilla bean, and has an ABV of 5.2%.
The beer pours a pale gold color with a small white head. The aroma is light and refreshing, with notes of vanilla, malt, and hops. The flavor is smooth and creamy, with a hint of sweetness from the vanilla. The finish is dry and crisp.
Black Horse Vanilla Cream Ale is a versatile beer that can be enjoyed on its own or with food. It is perfect for a summer day or a relaxing evening.
WATAUGA RIVER
The Watauga River in May has been experiencing varying flows. May saw 2.6 inches of rainfall, which was lower compared to the 3.82 inches in April. Consequently, the river experienced low and clear conditions when not generating. Focus on a stealthy presentation to increase fishing success.
Throughout the end of May, we have seen more afternoon generation and expect this to continue. During high water, it has been effective to use a worm pattern and a big fly like an RC Leggy #14 or a Frenchie #14 with an oversized 3.5mm bead.
Due to the increased fishing pressure on the Watauga in recent months, it's important not to get discouraged if you have a challenging day of fishing. When the fishing is slow, try changing up your tippet size to 6x or 6.5x. This adjustment in tippet size has proven to make a significant difference in catching fish.
When Sulphurs were observed hatching while we were still nymphing, switching to an Olive Hot Spot Jig #18 has resulted in immediate success. One strategy to try is switching the orientation of the flies to see if it triggers more bites from the fish.
Dry Fly Fishing
On low water, good sulphur hatches have been observed. Anglers have found success using a standard double dry rig or a single Puffdaddy dry fly during these hatches.
For those interested in swinging flies, a recommended rig includes using a No. 8 Split Shot placed 6 inches above the first fly when using flies without a bead. For flies, we often use Pheasant Tail Soft Hackles or Puffdaddys. This setup has been fantastic when fish are rising.
Click here for the Wilbur Dam generation schedule!
Suggested Patterns
Nymphs
Olive Quill #20
RC Leggy #14
Tungsten Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail #18 (Nymph it and swing it!)
Olive Hot Spot Jig #18
Dry Flies
RS2 Pale Morning Dun #18-20
Sulphur Puffdaddy#16
Sulphur Comparadun #18
